Interchangeable sign



Jan. 25, 1938. w. l. HEMRY 2,106,375

INTERCHANGEABLE S IGN Filed Feb. 26, 1957 Patented Jan. 25, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENTy OFFlCE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to interchangeable signs and has for its object to provide a comparatively simple and inexpensive device of the class described, by means of which sign characters or symbols may be conveniently supported for display purposes in any desired order or sequence so as to permit the wording of the display legend to be changed or varied at will.

A further object of the invention is to provide an interchangeable display sign, the letters, characters or symbols of which are each stamped from a single piece of material and provided with integral oppositely disposed retaining iianges slidably tted within parallel guiding grooves of a suitable holder and which flanges not only serve to guide and prevent displacement of the characters or symbols but also act as reinforcements to assist in preventing bending or distortion of said characters.

A further object is toprovide certain of the symbols or characters with depending securing tongues adapted to extend through openings in the walls of the guiding grooves to Contact with the rear of the holder whereby to permit proper placement and securement of characters representing periods and the like.

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and eiciency as well as to reduce the cost of manufacture.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of an interchangeable sign embodying the present invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a similar View taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the characters or symbols detached,

Figure 5 is a similar View of a symbol representing a period detached, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary front elevation partly broken away illustrating a modified form of the invention.

The improved sign forming the subject-matter of the present invention comprises a supporting member or holder 5 preferably elongated in shape, as shown, and stamped or otherwise formed from a single sheet of metal, the opposite longitudinal edges of which are bent inwardly to form overhanging anges 6 defining combined guiding and retaining grooves 1. The opposite ends of the holder 5 are formed with openings 8 for the reception of nails, screws or similar fastening devices, by means of which the holder may be secured to a wall or other suitable support.

Slidably mounted on the holder 5 are a plurality of symbols or characters 9 representing different letters of the alphabet, each symbol or character being stamped, pressed or otherwise formed from a single `piece of material of the proper shape and contour to form a selected letter or character. Each character 9 has stamped or otherwise formed integral therewith upper and lower retaining flanges I0 and II adapted to fit within the guiding grooves 'I with their adjacent ends in contact With each other, as indicated at I2, whereby the letters or characters may be properly spaced within the holder. The anges IIJ and II not only serve to guide and retain the characters 9 on the holder but also serve to reinforce and strengthen said characters or symbols and prevent bending or distortion thereof so that the characters may be readily positioned on and removed from the holder without binding or wedging action between the parts. It will here be noted that, linasmuch as the characters or symbols 9 are stamped from a single sheet of metal, the opposite faces thereof are perfectly flat and smooth so that the backs of the characters bear directly against the front of the holder while the fronts of the characters between the flanges I0 and II are all disposed in the same longitudinal plane.

The bottom wall of rthe lower overhanging flange B is provided at spaced predetermined intervals with openings I3 adapted to receive the depending tongues I4 of relatively small rectangular auxiliary symbols I5 representing periods or other punctuation marks. The tongues I4 are relatively narrow and readily bendable so that after the symbols I5 are positioned on the holder and the tongues I4 passed through the openings I3 the free ends of the tongues may be bent laterally and upwardly against the rear face of the holder and thus secure said auxiliary symbols securely in position. Attention is called to the fact that, when the auxiliary symbols I5 are interposed between certain of the characters 9, the ends of the retaining anges I0 and Il of said characters will bear against adjacent vertical walls of the auxiliary symbols I5 and thus serve to assist in preventing displacement of said auxiliary symbols.

In use, the letters or characters selected to make up a desired name or other legend to be lll displayed are inserted in the holder 5 from one end thereof and adjusted longitudinally of the holder to the desired position. That is to say, with the letters properly spaced and with the auxiliary symbols I5 positioned between the letters representing the initials of the name to be displayed as a legend. It will be noted that, when the characters 9 are arranged in proper position on the holder 5, the ends of the flanges I and il of certain characters will abut while the ends of the retaining flanges of other of said characters will bear against the auxiliary characters I so that lateral tilting of the several characters is eiectually prevented and as a consequence the reading on the sign will be legible at all times. By changing the position of the various characters, the nature of legend to be displayed may be changed or varied at will, as will be readily understood. If desired, certain of the auxiliary symbols I5 may be made shorter and disposed at opposite end of the holder and in contact with the adjacent characters 9 so as to securely hold or lock all of the characters in position on said holders, as best shown at I5 in Figure 6 of the drawing.

It will, of course, be: understood that the signs may be made in different sizes and shapes and the letters of the sign as well as the holder constructed of metal or other suitable material without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A sign comprising a holder having upper and lower longitudinal guiding grooves, the walls of one of which are provided with spaced open ingsy main display characters slidably mounted on the holder and each provided at its opposite ends with ilat reinforcing members constituting retaining ilanges for engagement with the guiding grooves, and auxiliary characters interposed between certain of the main characters and provided with reduced tongues extending through the adjacent openings in the holder.

2. A sign comprising a holder having upper and lower longitudinal guiding grooves, the lower Wall of one of which is provided with spaced openings, a plurality of display characters slidably mounted on the holder and each stamped from a single piece of material to form a selected letter having a transversely disposed retaining flange at each end thereof adapted to t within the adjacent guiding groove, and a member bearing against adjacent display characters and provided with a bendable tongue extending through the adjacent openings in the groove with its free end bent in engagement with the back of the holder.

3. A sign comprising a holder having upper and lower longitudinal guiding grooves opening through the opposite ends of the holder, the lower wall of one of the grooves being formed with spaced openings, a plurality of main display characters slidably mounted on the holder and each stamped from a single piece of metal to form a selected letter, each letter being provided at its opposite ends with transversely disposed reinforcing members constituting retaining flanges for engagement with the grooves, and auxiliary display characters interposed between certain of the main display characters and of less height than said main characters, said auxiliary characters being provided with depending securing tongues extending through the adjacent openings in the guiding groove and bent into engagement with said holder.

4f.. A sign comprising a holder having upper and lower longitudinal guiding grooves opening through the opposite ends of the holder, the bottorn wall of one of said guiding grooves being provided with spaced openings, a plurality of display characters slidably mounted on the holder and each stamped from a single piece of material to form a selected letter, each letter being provided at its opposite ends with a transversely disposed flat reinforcing member constituting a retaining flange for engagement with said `guiding grooves, the ends` of the retaining flanges of certain of adjacent characters contacting with each other, and auxiliary display characters interposed between the retaining flanges of other of said main characters and provided with bendable securing tongues extending through the openings in the adjacent guiding groove for contact with the rear of the holder.

WALTER I. HEMRY. 

